FKF Civil War: Branch Chairmen Push for Explosive SGM Showdown

Differences within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) leadership have escalated as a majority of FKF branch chairmen move to convene a Special General Meeting (SGM) to address what they describe as growing internal wrangles within the federation.

The push for the FKF SGM comes amid deepening divisions between branch officials and members of the FKF National Executive Committee (NEC), with sources indicating that more than 38 out of the 48 branch chairmen have already signed a petition demanding the meeting be convened.

According to insiders, the petition was signed during a recent meeting held at Safaricom headquarters involving discussions around the Chapa Dimba tournament sponsorship program. While the official agenda focused on youth football development, the sidelines of the meeting reportedly became the center of intense consultations among branch chairmen over the current state of football management in the country.

The governors are said to be seeking an open forum where Congress — the supreme decision-making body of FKF — can discuss the ongoing disputes within the federation and determine the way forward. The petitioners have also reportedly reached out to clubs in the FKF Premier League, National Super League, and FKF Women Premier League in a bid to rally wider support for the proposed SGM.

What initially appeared to be a move linked purely to the recent fallout between some NEC members and FKF President Hussein Mohammed is now emerging as a much broader rebellion fueled by long-standing frustrations between some branch chairmen and a section of NEC officials.

Even though some within football circles believe the FKF President could be using branch chairmen to politically punish NEC members who allegedly attempted to stage a coup against him, pundits and insiders insist the main driving force behind the push for the SGM is the long-running conflict between branch chairmen and some of their respective NEC representatives.

Sources within FKF indicate that many branch chairmen have for some time been unhappy with what they term as interference by NEC members in the management of football activities within their respective branches and regions.

A major point of conflict has reportedly been the running of Division Two and regional leagues, including disputes over promotion and relegation of teams, league administration, and control of football structures at branch and regional level.

Several NEC members are accused of attempting to undermine or sideline elected branch chairmen whenever disagreements arose regarding league management decisions.

The wrangles have in some regions spilled openly into the media, exposing deep cracks within the leadership.

In Nairobi and Central regions, for instance, prolonged disputes allegedly emerged sometime last year between branch officials and the two NEC representatives over the administration of Division Two football.

The battle reportedly involved Nairobi NEC member Dan Shikanda and Central Region NEC representative Robert Macharia, with teams at times receiving conflicting directives from branch officials and their NEC representatives.

Similar tensions are said to have played out in several other regions across the country, leaving clubs and stakeholders confused and further worsening relations between the officials.

Insiders now claim that many branch chairmen saw the current instability within the NEC as an opportunity to finally push back against officials they accuse of high-handedness and interference in branch and regional affairs.

At the same time, political observers believe FKF President Hussein Mohammed may also have realized that the long-standing differences between branch chairmen and some NEC members could work to his advantage politically. With frustrations against certain NEC officials already deeply rooted at branch level, analysts argue that the President may benefit immensely from the growing fallout without necessarily being seen as the direct architect of the rebellion.

Some within FKF reportedly believe the proposed SGM caught several NEC members by surprise, particularly after realizing that a Congress-driven process could potentially lead to suspensions or removal from office.

However, sources close to the branch officials insist the rebellion is not necessarily being orchestrated by the FKF President, but rather stems from accumulated frustrations by branch chairmen who feel sidelined and undermined by some NEC members since they took office.

Interestingly, political maneuvering has already reportedly begun behind the scenes.

Sources indicate that Robert Macharia may have moved quickly to repair relations within the Central Region after sensing the growing mood among branch chairmen. Following the failed attempt to unseat the FKF President, Macharia reportedly held meetings with branch officials from his region and later distributed footballs and equipment for grassroots clubs through branch leadership structures.

Observers note that most branch chairmen from the Central Region are among the few who did not sign the petition — a development many now interpret as evidence that reconciliation efforts may have worked in his favor.

Despite this, sources claim that officials from other regions still view him as part of what they describe as an “oppressive NEC structure,” particularly due to solidarity among branch chairmen from Central, Nairobi, and other affected regions.

Among the NEC members reportedly facing the biggest threat from the proposed SGM are Dan Shikanda (Nairobi), Peter Kamau “Kass Kass” (Lower Rift), as well as NEC representatives from Nyanza and Western regions, all of whom are said to have experienced strained relations with branch officials within their regions.

Although a handful of branch chairmen have since reportedly attempted to withdraw their signatures from the petition, insiders say the momentum behind the SGM push remains strong.

Should the Special General Meeting eventually take place, Congress could wield sweeping powers, including suspending NEC members pending further resolutions.

Such a move would almost certainly trigger a prolonged legal and political battle within Kenyan football, potentially dragging the federation into the courts while reshaping the balance of power at FKF.

For now, the unfolding battle between FKF governors and NEC members appears set to define the next chapter of politics inside Kenyan football — with FKF President Hussein Mohammed potentially emerging as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the growing divisions within the federation.